I have argued politics with both the left and right and consistently the right has shown more respect and less anger about our points of disagreement. I have found that most conservatives judge me by how I act; most left-wingers judge me by what I believe in.
I have received far more personal intolerance and hate from the left than I have from the right. For example, time and again, I have had left-wingers -- including some I had been friends with -- wish that my children would be shot, because of my pro-gun stand. I have never had any Christian conservative wish AIDS or homosexual rape on my children, because of my pro-gay beliefs.
This is really basic, folks. The Conservatives, including the Fundamentalist religious right, and I disagree on many issues; but I have almost always received respect and a decently fair hearing from them. I have rarely received such consideration from the left.
I hope someone passes this along to DU. They need to hear it.
All I can say is agreed, and BUMP!
I bookmarked this thread based on that comment alone. Perhaps some discussion will develope rather than the thread falling apart after about the tenth post. That is always very disappointing.
Here's one classic example:
Before the last election I asked my sister-in-law, a card carrying Democrat and delegate to her state party convention, if she could point me to a good liberal newsletter or discussion group and provide me with a concise statement of her party's platform. Her only response was to send me a long email consisting entirely of George W. Bush jokes!
I also have argued with both. But my results have been quite different. I have found both to be pretty much equal in their treatment of libertarian ideas. The problem you seem to have experienced, is one of language.
The liberals do not speak the same language as conservatives do. They don't set the same priorities that conservatives do. They do not fear the same compromises which may occur from untimely advancement of particular issues that conservatives do. Learn the language and value system first, and you'll find liberals are as open as conservatives to the libertarian philosophy.
I assure you, that should a liberal libertarian, completely unaware of conservative values and language come on to Free Republic, and start spouting off using liberal oriented rhetoric and values, that libertarian will receive just as much insult, threat, and disrespect as you have received from liberals. And rightly so.
As a matter of fact, I've seen two different liberal libertarians, at two different times, get a well deserved royal trouncing here at FR. Even the libertarians here didn't recognize them, and assumed they were advocating what in fact they weren't advocating in the slightest. I think in both those cases they didn't try to get past the misunderstanding, as they saw the alternative understanding as no better.
I regularly talk about peoples right to keep and bear arms with liberals, even those who oppose such rights. Usually it ends with them saying that I have a lot of good points. I know I have convinced a number of them on that issue (well maybe not me alone). I have never heard a wish of harm to me or mine, do to that stand.
DING DING DING! You, my friend, win a cigar. This is the Quote of the Week.
I hope someone passes this along to DU. They need to hear it.
No need to pass it along. They are obsessed with FR, and monitor us constantly. They're definitely reading this thread.
David Horowitz would agree with you. Radical Son
I do too. I find a distinct difference between liberal politicians, such as Daschle and Gephardt, and the rank and file, such as many over at the DU. The liberal politicians are outright deceivers. The rank and file come across as misguided/wrongheaded.
Bump for major clarity.
Oh yeah?????? Well, up YOUR..........
JUST kidding. :) Had ya for a split second, didn't I?
Seriously, as a hard-right Conservative, I've always considered Libertarians our brethren to the core. Now, I see Libertarians as a hair off of anarchists, but I infinitely prefer that mind-set to the classic, liberal mind-set of "MORE and BIGGER Government; take from them whats got and give to them what doesn't". I find liberals petty, stupid, grossly uninformed and happy to stay that way, obnoxious, utterly incapable of intelligent discussion, rude, greedy (yep; greedy........they want what I have, but not willing to give up what THEY have), and downright un-American. Libertarians and I don't agree on everything, but they're pretty cool people.